Minister calls for national housing fund and levy to boost state-led construction

The Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Ahmed Ibrahim, has called for a national housing fund and levy to finance state-led housing construction and expand access to homes for young people.

Speaking during visits to the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) and Ghana Water Company Limited on Tuesday, October 20, Mr Ibrahim said the state must take the lead in building and urged support for TDC, State Housing and district housing agencies.

He said a national housing fund would require a levy approved by Parliament. He also proposed taxing wealthier people to help finance homes for young people.

“The haves must have plans for the have-nots. The rich must be taxed to build houses for the youth,” he said.

Mr Ibrahim argued that private developers were profit-oriented and said some houses in prime areas were built for wealthy buyers or short-term rentals. He said 35 per cent of those houses were unoccupied, while young people needed places to live.

The Minister cited high-rise buildings in Kenya, Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire as examples of the type of development Ghana could pursue. He warned that the country needed urgent measures to address housing and water challenges as demand grows.

Mr Ibrahim also said President John Dramani Mahama had authorised the Finance Minister to set aside GH¢1 billion this year for home ownership.

During the visit to Ghana Water Company Limited, management said the government owed the company GH¢459 million as of September 2026, putting pressure on its finances and operations.